Fishhook guard



Sept. 12, 1950 J. v. MODESTO FISHHOOK GUARD Filed June 24, 1949 irzzlezajar'. e/ws 7% Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE 2,522,292 I I FISHH-OOK Guano James V. Modesto, Chicago, Ill. Application June 24, 1949, emi No. 101451 otherwise engaged in or with weeds, brush,"

stumps or other obstructions during use, as by casting or trolling; theguard means being so constructed as 'to effect constant, positive shielding of the equipped hook or hooks, and atthe same time, permit the hooks to be retained at ready, so that when struck and taken by a fish, they will be securely fixed and/or set, hence, insuring the catch.

Another object of the invention is to provide" a fish hook weed or snag guard of simple and sturdy construction, sufficiently light in weight to avoid objectionable burdening of an equipped hook, thus allowing the making of long and/or highly satisfactory casts.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro-' vide a device of the indicated character, capable of being conveniently and readily attached to various forms of baits 'and/or'lures, and which in itself will enhance the effectiveness of such baits or lures by reason of the attraction or flash thereof, as when moved through the water in either cast retrieving or trolling.

A further and important'object of the invention is to provide a fish hook guard advantageous for use on so-called gang hooks, permitting the same to be attached to substantially any type of top water, deep running or other under water baits.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, advan tages and meritorius teachings of my invention,"

will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the forms of invention presented herein areprecise and what are now considered to be the better modes of embodying its principles, but that other modifica tions and changes may be made in specific em-' bodiments without departing fro itsessemial features, r

Inthe drawing I Figure 1 is a side elevation'of my improved fish hook guard, showing it applied to a gang type of fish hook and innormal position, a por-' tion of the body of the guard being broken'away and shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the guar d.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the improved. guard, as adapted to a gang type of fish ho'okJ 11 Claims. (01. 43-434) showing the guard arms receiving the hooks proper and their gaffs through the ways therein, as when the guard is struck by a fish, and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of the guard.

Referring in detail to the accompanying draw ings, and particularly, to that form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the same is especially adapted for use on a fish hook of the gang type generally comprising a plurality of substantially relatively immovable and spaced hooks, (usually three in number) indicatedby the numeral 1.. The shanks 2 of the hooks lie parallel to each other, may be interconnected, i and have an eye 3 or its equivalent connected to the outer adjacent ends thereof; the hooks 4 proper being outwardly curved, radially disposed and equi-spaced'and formed or otherwise provided with the usual gaffe 5,

The invention, i. e., the improved guard, consists of a tubular or hollow cylindrically shaped body 6 whose outer end is partially closed by fianging,'as at 1", .and has a diametrically disposed w'ay 8 therein. A plurality of comple mentally formed radially disposed and relatively spaced substantially rigid arms 9, corresponding in'nuniber'to the number of the hooks proper 4, are integralwith or fixedly connected to the inner or lower end of the body 6. Said arms are each correspondingly outwardly obliquely disposed with respect to the body 6 and coincide in their spacing to that between the hooks 4, aforesaid. A longitudinal slot or way 10 is formed in and parallel to the longitudinal sides of each of the arms" 9, and as shown in the drawings, terminates inwardly of the outer and free end thereof, while,

its opposite end extends to a point in proximity to the 'jointure between its arm 9 and the body 6, v The free 'ends of the several arms 9 maybe and preferably are somewhat enlarged, as atl l, and substantially straight along and over their inner faces; 'also,.it is preferable that said enlarg'ed portions shall be slightly shouldered, as at l I, for purposes hereinafter described.

The shanks 2 of the hooks are slidably received through the body 6 in the manner shown in Figure l of the drawings. In such position, the eye 3 is arrangedbeyond' the body, being passed through its partially closedend via the diametrical .way

8. 'Re-entranceof the eye carrying outer ends of the hook shanks 2 into the body 6 is prevented by a stop 3' carried on appropriate portions of said shanks and engaging across the I diametrical way 8 and with the flanged end I.

The hooks proper 4 with their gafis 5 are posilarly, the enlarged free end portions H of said arms.

In order that the above described relative. po.-- sitioning between the guard arms 9, hooks proper 4 and their gaffs 5 will be normally, though mov- 1 ably maintained, an expansible coiled spring l2 of the proper tension is received in and longitudinally of the hollow cylindrical body 6; and over and above the juxtaposed shanks 2 of the gang. hooks 1. One end of the springhas bearing; on. an. adjacent portion of thebody: end par-- tial closure '1, Its opposite or inner. end. has bearing engagement on adjacentportionsof said hooks I. retained, under normal conditions, in. theposition shown in Figure 1. However, when a sufficient longitudinal or near longitudinal; pull, thrust or other stress is imparted to the guard arms 9 or body 6 in a general direction toward the hooks-proper A of the gang hooks I., said body will be caused to slide over the hook. shanks 2. against the tension-of the now being compressed coiledspring l2 to a point adjacent andv in-bea-ring-engagement with the shank basal portions. During, this body sliding movement, the gaffe 5' of, the. hooks proper will move through theslotsin their respective. and adjacent guard. arms 9,.

exposing the same to such an extent that they will. function to engage and become: set in matter adjacent the same-aster example, the fleshor. other structureof a fish.

In. use of a hookequipped with the herein. described guard, the hook is attached to a. swivel or-other device of a bait or lure of desired:- form- (notshown). The guard arms 9- overlyingv thesharpened ends of the hook gaifs, as abovedew scribed, w-ill substantially sheath. and. protect the latter. and, of course, prevent them from bein exposed or extended from or beyond adjacent portions of the outer faces of said arms where they may well become undesirablyengaged with obstructions, etc; moreover, dulled to states of ineffiiciency. The guard. arms will be yieldably. or movably retained in this described relationship by means of the expansible coiled spring l2 engaged over and about the gang. hook. shanks and received in the hollow cylindrically shaped bQdy 5, in the manner previously described.

When pull, thrust or other stress is applied or. directed to the outer sides of the guard. arms 9 Or to the body 6, as by the striking of a fish, itwill be understood. that the force of suchapplied stress will counteract the tension of the expansible coiled spring !2, permitting said body 6 andguard arms 9 to be slid inwardly over the gang hook shanks 2 toward the hooks proper 4 and allowing the sharpened ends of the hook gafi's to emerge outwardly from the ways .III in the guard arms to positions where they will engage adjacent portions of the striking fish. Being so engaged, the barbs on the gaffs Will,. of course, become set in adjacent portions of. the fish, and thereby, ensure the catch. It may also be here noted that due to expansibility of the now Thus, it is seen that the hooks-will be compressed coiled spring l2 in the hollow cylindrically shaped bodies 5,the guardarms 9 will be urged in movement away from the hooks proper Al. Under such influence, it has been found that the outer sides of the guard arms 9 receiving the hook gaifs through the ways HJ therein produce an eiiectual clamping-like engagement of the hooked or impaled portions of the fish on and against the hook gafis.

When a hook equipped with my improved guard is fished, as in top water, deep running water or trolling sports or modes of fishing, and ismoved through such water, it will be appreciated=.by persons skilled in this pastime or sport that the oblique outwardly disposed guard arms 9 individually overlying the hooks proper and their gaffs. 5, will function to positively prevent their engagement or entanglement in submerged, partially submerged or unsubmerged obstructions or hazards, as for example, so-called seaweed, submerged bodies, etc. To this end, the resistanceoi the expansib'le coiled spring ['2 to com,-

pression will be foundwsufiicient to retain the Ashereinbefore setforth, parts of the enlarged free end portions H; of. the guard arms 9 may be slightly shouldered, as. indicated, by the ref erence numeral H; This shoulderingl have found, is particularly effective inusage of. the invention, to the end that when orshould the same-be engaged or struck. by a fish, a greater striking area or surface is provided; hence, iiiward'sliding movement'of the guard withv relation to the gafis 5 of the gang hooks is ensured, and thereby, the gafis are more certainly or surely engaged with the striking portion of the fish.

InFigure 4'; of theaccompanying drawings, I have shown. a slightly modified form of guard for the hooks proper 4' of a gang type of fish hook I". low cylindrically shaped body-G'carrying fixed and. substantially rigid inwardly extendingobliquely disposed guard arms These guard arms are in radial andsubstantially equi spaced sides.

ends. open onto adjacent portions'of their respective arms.

sarily, like that from which said arms and body are formed; the strips being eitherintegral with thearms or being otherwise permanently joined Thus, in assembly;-the arcuate strips 3 comprise a substantially cir-' at their ends thereto.

cular rim or deflector for the' inner or-lower ends of the arms 9'. The inner or lower ends of: the ways. l-U', it will be noted, or not closed by the strips. [3,

The device includes a tubular or hol- The inner end-portions of the.- arms .9 are interconnected by arcuately shaped": strips I 3 of material preferably, but not nece's-' Said strips, while beingshown, to be- 52- of-rectangularcross-sectional shape, 'canbe of any other or'desired cross-sectionalshape.

."I prefer that portions'of the outer sides of the strips l3 adjacent or inproximity'to the ends of the arms S'shalll be shouldered, as at 14, similarly to the shoulders II efiected in the fi'rst described embodiment of the invention and; or course, for similar purposes.

The arms 9' ofthe guard'are individually longitudinally aligned with, and so, overlie correspondinghooks proper 4' and theirgafis 5 ofthe gang hook I. Thereby, the sharpened ends of the gaffs are normallyshieldingly engageddnadja 1 cent portions of aligning armways l0. "However, whenthe guard body 6 and its arms 9', areslid inwardly over the shanks Z'of 'the' gang hook l against the'tension of the expansible ooiledspringf l2 housed therein and engaged about"and'along" sai'd 'shanks, the gafis 5 of the hooks proper will engage through the arm ways 9, and in so doing, will be exposed for engagement with and=setting in adjacent portions of a striking fish.

'-The circular rim or deflector constituted'by I he" arcuate strips 13, will efiectively serve tofpreven't the passage and/or engagement of Weeds 'or like" vegetation,'or other bodies, between and with the V guard arms 9', hence, preventing its catching," fouling, snaggingetc: I

A fish hook guard constructed inaccordance with my invention will not only prevent fouling or-ls'nagging of a hook or hooks equipped therewith, but also, will afford a definiteand most de-c'i sirable safety factor, in that the, sharpened gafi ends will, norma1ly, be sheathed or shielded and thereby-prevented from becoming accidentally and/or harinfully engaged in portions of the body of a user or of a nearb person, as during rigging or casting thereof. Moreover, the device will provide additional attraction and flash to a lure .to which it is attached, hence, enhancing the effectiveness of the latter. I

While I have heretofore described m improved guard as being used on a gang hook, it is to be understood that the same may, with certain modifications well within the province of the invention, be adapted to single hooks; likewise, thatv when employed on gang hooks, the number of hooks comprised thereby can be varied and, of course, the number of guard arms made to correspond thereto, such as conditions-or preference may dictate.

I claim:

1. In combination with a gang fish hook, a caplike guard engaged about and slidable over the shanks of the hooks, the inner end of said guard being normally juxtapositioned with relation to and cappingly covering the gafls of the hooks, with the remainders of the hooks outwardly thereof and exposed portions of said guard adjacent the hook gafis having ways formed therein received on and slidable over the hooks, a plurality of outwardly extended and obliquely disposed relatively spaced arms carried by said body, each of said arms having longitudinal ways formed therein, said arms being individually longitudinally aligned with the hooks and their gaffs and the ways therein receiving the sharpened ends of the hook gaffs therein, and means engaging the body for normally and movably retaining' the inner'and 'fre'e 'end portions of the arms in juxtaposed relation to and over the sharpened ends of the hook gaifs.

3. A fish hook guard, comprising a substantially outwardly tapered hook guard means, a

itapos'itioned with relation to and cappingly cov- .ering the gaffs of the hooks with the remainders of the hooks exposed, and means on the hook shanks engaging the sleeve to normally retain the guard means in saidjuxtapositioned relationtothe hook gaffs.

4. A fish hook guard, comprising an outwardly tapered body havinga longitudinal way in and through the outer end thereof, said body includ-'- ing a plurality ofrelatively spaced and substan tially rigid arms, each of said arms having longitu'dinally disposed ways therein extending to points in proximity to the inner and free ends of sa'id'arms, the arms being individually disposed'over and beyond the hook gaffe and said gaifs' being adjacent to and engageable through the ways in the adjacent armsa'nd means on the hook'shanks engaging the body operable to nor mally retain the latter and its arms in juxtaposed relation to the hook gaifs.

5. A fish hook guard, comprising a-plurality of relatively grouped and fixed complemental arms,

saidarms'being each obliquely disposed and con verging into interjointure at their outer ends and having a way therethrough slidably receiving the i shanks of the hooks, each of the arms having longitudinally disposed ways therein extending to points in proximity to their inner and free ends, the arms being normally received over and extending beyond the adjacent hook gaffs, said gaffs being adjacent to and engageable through the ways in the adjacent arms, and means on the hook shanks engaging the joined outer ends of said arms operable to normally though movably retain said arms over and extended beyond the hook gafis.

6. A fish hook guard, comprising a body received on and slidable over the shanks of the hooks, a plurality of outwardly extended and obliquely disposed relatively spaced arms carried by said body,

each of said arms having longitudinal ways formed therein, said arms being individually longitudinally aligned with the hooks and their gafis, the ways in the arms receiving the sharpened ends of the hook gaffs therein, and means engaging the body for normally and movably retaining the free end portions of the arms in juxtaposed relation to and over the sharpened ends of the hook gafis.

7. A fish hook guard, comprising a body received on and slidable over the shanks of the hooks, a plurality of outwardly extended and obliquely disposed relatively spaced arms carried by said body, each of said arms having longitudinal ways formed therein and opening onto their free ends, said arms being individually longitudinally aligned with the hooks and their gafis, the ways in the arms receiving the sharpened ends of the hook gaffs therein, deflector means disposed between outer end portions of the arms and fixed thereto, and means engaging the body for normally and movably retaining the free end portions of the arms in juxtaposed relation to and over the sharpened ends of the hook gaffs.

8. A fish hook guard, comprising a body received on and slidable over the shanks of the hooks; a. plurality of outwardly extended and obliquely di posed. relatively pace zarms ea ri d: by said body, each of said arms having longitu dinal ways formed therein opening onto their free ends, said arms being individually longitudinally aligned with the hooks and. their g fi the, ways in the: arms receiving the sharpened endsof the hook gafistherein, strips disposedbetween the outer end portions of the arms and fixed thereto. inproxirnity to the opposite. sidesof the open ends of the longitudinal ways therein, nd m an en a ing the body-I01? no mally and. movably retaining the free end portions f: the arms in juxtaposedrelation to and over the sharpened ends of the hook gafis.

9'. A fish hook guard, comprising a body received on and slidable over the shanks; of the hooks, a plurality of outwardly extended andobliquely disposed relatively spaced arms carried by said body, eaoh ofsaid arms having longitudinal ways formed therein opening ontotheir free ends, said arms and the ways therein, being individually longitudinally aligned with the hooks and their gafis, the ways in the arms receiving, the sharpened ends of the hook gaffs therein, a ring-like deflector fixedly carried by the outer end; portions of said; arms having openings therein adjacent to and aligned with the outer ends of the ways in said arms, and means engaging;

he o y for normally and m b y r t inin the free end portions of the arms in juxtaposed relation to and over the sharpened ends of the hook gaffsl 1-0. A fish. 110.01; guard, comprisinga body re-. ceived on and slidable over the shanks of; the hooks, a plurality of outwardly extending and 8, liquely disposed. relati.vely spa ed and sub stantially rigidarms carried bysaid body; eachof: said arms aving; lon itudinal waysform d therein for portions of their respective lengths,

\ id arms and. their ways bein individually loneitudinally aligned with the hooks and their affisthew ys inlsaid arms recei n he sharp.- ened ends of the hook gafis therein, anddeflector: means carried; by the; outer end portions of said 'arms and spanning; the space therebetween.

11. A guard for gang fish, hooks, each, hook; havin a shank. d u d ompri in a ody r ceiv d.- n. and slidable overthe hook; hanks, p1ikeguard carried y said body the; inner end' ofwhich; is, normally juxtapositioned with REFERE CES; C ED- The following references are of record in theflle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date.- Burke Feb. 23, 19.09:

Number 

